18th February – Central Scotland Day 2

So after an early start (we headed to Leath for Breakfast in the Wetherspoons) it was 0915 for the first valid train of the day to Glasgow. Not a winner. At Glasgow we then caught a slow but winning 158 to Falkirk Grahmston. We had a bit of time until our train to Stirling so we popped to the Wetherspoons for an early drink!

Back at the station things weren't going well. Trains started running late for some reason so it was unlikely we would make it to Stirling in time for the train to Alloa. Whilst waiting DRS 57304 passed through light engine (route learning apparently). We finally made it to Stirling on a winning 158 but missed the planned train to Alloa. We had an hour to kill before the next one so we did a couple of trips to Larbert and back. I picked up 2 winning 158s and a 170 during this time. We grabbed a tea from the pumpkin before heading onto new route to Alloa. This was on a winning 170. There was a little wait at Alloa and not a lot nearby. We popped into ASDA to grab some bits before heading back to Stirling.

From here a winning 158 took us to Haymarket. We spent some time going between Haymarket and Edinburgh and I picked up four 170s, four 156s and three 158s in this time. It was then time for the loco hauled 67 to onto the Fife Circle. It was 67007 (dud) doing the duty. I wasn't aware only one was running and we got off at Inverkeithing hoping for the second. But was a unit (although it was a double winning 158 set). So we got off at Dunfermaline Town and headed to the centre for some dinner. After this we headed back to the station where we caught a train to Dunfermaline Queen Margaret before a train back to Haymarket. Both were duds.

We then did a series of moves that would incorporate new stations, mean we were on a train for as long as possible (it was getting seriously cold!) and hopefully continue to pick up new units. First up was a return to South Gyle. A winning 158 took us a dud 170 back. Then a return to Linlithgow. A winning 170 took us and then a dud one back. A winning 158 to Edinburgh from Haymarket before the last planned set of moves for the day. It was late but would cover a bit of track to Markinch via Cowden that was required. A dud 158 took us and then a dud 221 back to Edinburgh. It was after midnight by the time we got back but that bit of track was complete. It was really cold waiting at Markinch (the temperature had seriously dropped) but was another good day with another 319 miles travelled and plenty of winning trains along with winning track.